1. Workshop on the Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in SADC Region -Blantyre, Malawi- 1-5 December 2008

2. Obstacles The Central Statistical Office (Zimbabwe) is facing in collecting, compiling and disseminating Vital Statistics

3. Zimbabwe Presentation By: Tinashe Enock Mwadiwa -Statistician- Central Statistical Office- Health and Vital Statistics

4. The presentation will cover:
Administrative arrangements of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems
Problems in collecting vital statistics
Problems in compiling vital statistics
Problems in disseminating vital statistics
Recommendations to improve production of Vital Statistics

5. Administrative arrangements of the Civil Registration System
The Registrar General’s office (RG) is the department responsible for the civil registration system
The Central Statistical Office (CSO) is the government agency responsible for the collection, processing and dissemination of Vital Statistics.

6. The Health and Vital Statistics Section is within the Social Statistics Branch of the CSO
The Health Statistics Office is housed in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare and
The Vital Statistics office is found at the Registrar General’s Office for easy access to death forms.

7. Problems in collecting vital statistics
Some of the death forms are inaccessible
2. Inadequacy of staff. Currently there are only two permanent posts for statistical clerks. This is not enough given that deaths have been increasing

8. 3. Currently methods of collecting data- manual system
4. The CSO collects data from the national registry only.

9. 4.Challenges at the RG’s office
Some offices not computerised
Transportation problems- some areas are remote
Inadequate office accommodation
Inadequate staff at provincial and district levels

10. Problems in compiling vital statistics
Inexperience in coding the ‘ cause of death’
2. Lack of continuity in qualified staff.

11. 3.A lot of time used in correcting and verifying coded data.
4.Out dated version of ICD

12. Problems in disseminating data
Insufficient budget to print reports.
2.Lack of awareness in vital statistics that are produced.
3.Backlog of statistical reports.

13. 4. Availability of statistical reports and Head Office Only
4. Availability of statistical reports and Head Office Only. Reports are not shared with provincial offices.

14. Recommendations.
1.Introduce more permanent posts for clerks
2.Other vital statistics should start being produced to satisfy all users of data
3.Training programmes should be ongoing to cater for new staff

15. 4.Public should be made aware of the existence and uses of both civil registration and vital statistics
5.ICD10 should be introduced as planned
6.Employ clerks with a medical background as was once the case.

16. 7.CSO should also be stationed at district or provincial RG’s offices to capture data at that level
8.CSO should start collecting data from the RG’s office in softcopy since this is readily available

17. THANK YOU